“Someone should run that SOB out of town and get someone in here who’s will to spend a little money.”

No, these weren’t quotes overheard at the last Astros game. Though we have heard many like those a lot lately. No, these were the words I’ve heard almost every year I’ve followed baseball in Houston.

Even in the good years I heard the same thing. 80-81, 86, 97-99, 01, 04-05 and all years in between. The Astros were always, always the target of scorn by many in their own home town. Good times, bad times, it didn’t matter. These were the Houston LAstros and that’s all they would ever be.

Some say they hate because they love. Some say that they are just being realistic and everyone else is being delusional.

Whatever.

There will always be people that see the worst no matter what is going on. In their own lives, in their work, in their family, in their friends, everything. Your common, every day, dark cloud loving, trolls. Everyone knows one, and at times, many of us become one.

A lot of the time it seems like the majority of sports fans in Houston are that way all the time, but the good thing is that I know that’s not the case. It’s just that troll voices are louder voices than the rest. It’s all part of the whole troll way of life. The only way they can improve their lot in life is to bring everyone else down to the same pit they are in.

Psychology this, psychology that, yada, yada…

Anyhow, this comes about because of a conversation I heard on the radio this afternoon. The weekend guys on my favorite station (SR610) were talking about the environment at Minute Maid during the last few series. How the majority of vocal fans have been the opposing team. Of course, there hasn’t been a lot to cheer about for the Astros, even so, there was more booing from the opposing fans than cheering from ours.

One of the guys suggested it was fan expectations. Both of ours and theirs. And I think he was right.

Houston baseball fans, as long as I can remember, almost always go to a game expecting to lose. No matter how good the team may be, they expect to lose. Of course when we win they are happy, but when we lose they just shake their head and say “shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up.”

Lets take Cubs fans for instance. These guys have been a borderline train wreck for a century. The last time they made it to the World Series was 1945. They didn’t even make the playoffs again until 1984. Yet no matter where you go, if the Cubs are playing you will find 100’s of absolutely rabid fans.

Yeah, I know, they’ve also been around pretty much forever so their fan base is more DNA based than anything. STill.

The Cubs fans I’ve known don’t care that they lose every season. It just doesn’t matter. It’s their team, always has been, always will be. When things go well they cheer passionately and when things go bad they boo their heads off. No matter the situation, they love their Cubbies. The loveable losers.

My point is…

…my God! finally!

Ahem…

My point is…

…that we just need to have a sense of humor about things. The Astros aren’t going to be this bad forever though sometimes it may seem that way. There’s no point in getting upset about it. Just go with it and have fun. We’ve got enough involuntary stress in our lives as it is, no point in adding any.

So don’t curse, don’t pout, just make the best of it.

Don’t make your bets on the Astros winning, bet on which reliever will blow it.

Don’t make your bets on how many HRs we’ll get, bet on who will make the most critical error.

Don’t bet on how many runs we’ll score, bet on IF we’ll score.

(Of course these could apply to any form of game involving refreshing adult beverages as well.)

All the while, just remember it’s only a game.

…and for goodness sake, laugh once in a while or someone might sic something like this on you: